The Stage

Brief Encounter to end West End run

Published Wednesday 27 August 2008 at 13:35 by Alistair Smith

Kneehigh’s stage version of Brief Encounter is to close after a nine-month run at the Cinema on The Haymarket, producers have announced.

The show, which began performances in February, had originally been booked in as a 12-week run, but extended on a number of occasions. However, it will now close on November 16, after 350 performances. Early next year, the show will embark on a 25-week UK tour.

Producer David Pugh said: “I am delighted and amazed at the astounding success of the Kneehigh production of Brief Encounter. It was a daunting and some people said plain silly idea to adapt one of London’s oldest cinemas back into a theatre, but it has proved to be a most inspired and exciting achievement. What started as a 12-week run has been extended and extended, which means the Kneehigh Theatre Company will have played for over 350 performances, and they are now due a well-earned rest before the UK tour opens on February 13, 2009 at the Royal Theatre, Northampton.”

The show is directed in the West End by Kneehigh Theatre’s artistic director Emma Rice. It is designed by Neil Murray, with lighting by Malcolm Rippeth, original music by Stu Barker, sound by Simon Baker and projection by Gemma Carrington and Jon Driscoll.

Brief Encounter is produced in the West End by Pugh and Dafydd Rogers and Cineworld Group Plc.

The production is the second major West End show to announce its closure in the last fortnight, with Marguerite at the nearby Theatre Royal Haymarket also announcing that it is to close - in its case on September 13.